A Welcome Regonition

Kendall has been working very hard this year.  It has not been easy, as many parents can attest to.  It feels like many students lost a year of schooling during COVID.  Kendall pivoted to Gem Prep mid-year last year, but her math curriculum has been tough, as the ride was bumpy for awhile.  There have been a lot of late nights, but she has kept with it.  It was nice to see that her instructors recognized her perseverance with a Scholar of the Week award.  She has a lot on her plate right now with dance, school and work.  However, she continues to press on!

A Delicious Idea.

 Sidney has been enjoying churros from one of the fast food restaurants lately.  She asked me if I thought we could make some of our own in the air fryer.  I found this really great recipe online.  She and I went to work making them.  The dough was very easy to prepare.  Then you put it in a piping bag and lay out on a baking mat.

After letting the piped dough refrigerate for an hour, we placed the in the air fryer.

After about 10 minutes in the air fryer, we pulled them out and rolled them in cinnamon and sugar.

Oh my goodness.  They were delicious!!!

The Finer Things

Sidney and I decided to venture out to A Way With Clay.  It had been pre-pandemic since our last visit, which means we had not been there in about two years.  I had forgotten how much fun it was.  We spent the day visiting with each other, and our friend Judy, who owns the shop.  It was great to get out.

I painted a cute little bowl.  I think it is supposed to be a dog dish, but I will use it for holding keys and jewelry.  Sidney painted a mug with a horse picture.  This is her second horse mug.  The first one is quite large, so this one will be good for her daily chai tea.

One of the nurses that had taken care of Kevin is friends with me on Facebook.  I have always enjoyed fresh cut flowers.  They remind me of something beautiful and frivolous, somewhat like a luxury.  This all started when Kevin and I were dating, and he would buy me flowers quite regularly.  She had purchased some supermarket flowers and put them in three separate bowls.  It was a beautiful idea.  So, my mom and I went on a thrift store hunt.  I found this gorgeous tray and three mismatched clear vases.  Then I purchased some Albertson's market bunch flowers.  I must say it is gorgeous and brings me so much joy.

That Wall, Those Puzzles, One Puppy Free to the Next Owner:).

The other night, I was in the dining room working on a puzzle, when I heard a ruckus in the other room.  Then I heard Sidney shout, "Seriously, how can one dog do so much damage?"  I reluctantly got out of my chair to see what had happened.  As Sidney explained it, Bella flew through the air to play attack Bailey.  Bailey jump out of the way and Bella proceeded to fly - directly into the wall -  head first.  She dented the aluminum corner strip, which caused the dry wall to crack.  Holy smokes!  It is a wonder she is not doggy concussed.

I really have nothing to say. She is crazy.  We love her.  She is crazy.  Does anyone want to borrow her for 18 months?  

This picture is one of the puzzles that I got to finish.  One of the puzzles that she did not manage to eat before completion.  So far, she has eaten two of my puzzles and one of Sid's.  We do not like her some days, but we love her all of the days!

Shopping at the Mall...Again.

The girls have entered the partially independent phase of their teenage years.  I say partially, because they do not yet have the ability to execute most things on their own.  Shopping at the mall is one of those examples.

Kendall and Abby wanted to go to the mall.  Kendall drove us all down, as she is required to have an adult in the passenger seat.  I dropped them off and drove home.  About 20 minutes later they asked me to come get them.

Here is the kicker.  When I arrived, I learned that they really just wanted a ride across the street to a restaurant.  In their defense, the temperature was in the single digits.  To their credit, I was expected to eat with them.  As I felt irritation scratch under the surface, I paused a moment.  Here is my teenage daughter and her friend.  Inviting mom to eat dinner with them...in public.  My irritation faded.  I need to cherish these moments.  Even if she is held captive by needing an adult in the car, she is rolling with it.  These moments are becoming more precious.

The following week, Kendall and Sidney also wanted to go on a mall date.  I dropped them off, while my mom and I had our own separate date.  They sent us these pictures to catalog their fun.  Gotta love these MC Hammer style meditation pants.

Oh and this.  I hesitated to post, but again, this blog is for them.  This is a memory they created together.  A trip to the mall with your sister, trying on clothes you have no intention of purchasing (including a trip to Victoria's Secret) and laughing along the way.  I LOVE THIS!

Two Left Feet.

Last week, I had a doctor's appointment.  Just before leaving, I entered a dark closet to put my shoes on and rushed out the door without a mirror check.  I showed up to the appointment, checked in and waited a short few minutes for the technician to come get me.  As I walked to the room, I looked down to notice my mismatched shoes.  I proceeded to laugh out loud.  The technician turned around and saw me laughing.  I told her what I had done.  She said she had 'noticed', but was not going to say anything.  We both got a great laugh out of it.  She told me that I made her day.  I am glad that my lack of attention to detail, made someone elses day.  After the appointment, I ran my errands.  What else was I going to do?  This was definitely not worth going home to change shoes!

Kendall Interview '15'.

1. Describe yourself.  Kind, empathetic, hard working.

2. What are you thankful for?  Family, friends, dance.

3. What makes you happy?  Dance.

4.. What makes you sad or angry?  When people treat me, or my family, badly.

5. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Jeffrey Bezos.  (clearly we are not taking this too seriously).

6. What’s important to you?  Family, friends, school and dance.

7. What do you love most about yourself?  My drive and determination.

8. What do you love most about your mom?  Her supportive nature.

9. What do you love most about your sister?  Her cuddles.

10. If you could go anywhere, where would you want to go?  To New York with my friends.

11. Who do you admire? Why?  Cozey, because she is really determined and hard working and kind to everyone.

12. What do you want to learn more about?  Political issues.

13. What’s something you’d like to do to help someone else?  If I could, I would like to eliminate the coronavirus.

14. What are you afraid of? Losing the people I love.

15. If you could only keep one thing, what would you keep? "This is tough.  Last year, I said Bailey.  This year we have two dogs.  Shoot."  The dogs:).

16. What’s your favorite memory?  From this year, it was hanging out with Abby and Elerie.  On our way home, we stood up out of the sunroof and blasted Here's to Never Growing Up (Avril Lavigne).

17. What are you proud of yourself for?  Working hard and balancing school and dance.

18. What are you looking forward to this year?  Dance competitions.  

19. What do you dream about?  Dancing professionally.

20. What else do you want to say?  "Cause when you're 15 and someone tells you they love you, you're gonna believe them."  Taylor Swift - Fifteen

Ringing in 2022.

 I am a self professed New Year's Eve party pooper.  BUT, not this year.  This year I was coerced into hosting 7 teenage girls for an all night party.  It was disguised as a Kendall birthday party, but I knew the drill.  In hindsight, I would do it all over again.  It was a great night, with lots of laughter, screaming and minimal girl drama.

If you are wondering how they got the above video...they decided to tape the phone to the ceiling.  Yep, Sidney's contribution.  Here they are in a practice taping.  I think they used more tape the second time around, as this one did not stick.

The girls did indeed celebrate Kendall, amidst the craziness.

In fact, for Kendall, it felt more like celebration week versus celebration day.  She had a party with Uncle Jason, a party with friends and a sweet birthday dinner with Sid and I.

Yep, New Year's was a bit different this year.  Seven teenage girls, two dogs and one crazy mom.